France suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Italy in their UEFA Nations League opener at the Parc des Princes on Friday night. Despite taking an early lead through Bradley Barcola after just 13 seconds, Les Bleus crumbled in the face of a spirited Italian comeback.
Federico Dimarco equalized for Italy on the half-hour mark with a superb volley. The Azzurri then took control in the second half, with goals from Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori sealing a memorable victory.
It was a chastening night for France manager Didier Deschamps, who offered a frank assessment of his team’s performance after the match:
“We started very well by scoring and putting good pressure on Italy. It’s difficult to maintain that intensity. Already in the second part of the first half, we made mistakes that allowed them to equalize,” Deschamps explained.
He added: “Trying to press high, we made mistakes. Then it becomes more complicated when you concede a goal at the start of the second half against a team that knows how to defend well. We left space, so they hurt us.”
Deschamps acknowledged that some of his players were not in peak condition, noting: “I knew the condition of the quality players was not at its maximum. Olise and Koné started tonight, there are mandatory steps to grow.”
The French coach was particularly frustrated by his team’s drop in intensity as the match progressed: “It bothers me that after the first twenty minutes, the light went out,” he lamented.
Despite the disappointing result, Deschamps remained defiant in the face of potential criticism: “I’m used to criticism, even though I’ve won more than I’ve lost. I’ve always been clear-sighted about what we do.”
